Some years ago I had posted a packing list that I had used for my Manli-Leh cycling trip. That post generated many thank-you’s and even more follow-up questions. The Manali-Leh trip was my first major multi-day self-supported cycling trip. Since then I have done many more trips and I am now more settled on my packing list. And my approach to packing for a cycling trip is more refined, or so I’d like to believe.
What I am sharing here is:
- The exact list of items I carried on my month long self-supported cycling trip (Northern Tier, USA).
- The weight (rounded off to 5 or 10 grams) of each of those items.
- My approach to packing cycling and camping gear.
The list that follows can be used as a base list for any self-supported multi-day cycling trip. If you are going for a trip shorter than a week, then you could pare this down a bit. But if you are going for a cycling trip that will last longer than that – even up to a couple of months – then this list should work fine. The only thing that you may need to vary is:
- Quantity of food – that depends very much on the remoteness of the trip.
- Cold weather gear – that depends on the season, altitude and latitude of the trip.
- Electronics - On long tours I need to work from the road so I need to carry a laptop. I like to shoot stills and videos so I carry a large (20,000 mAh) power bank, medium-size tripod, external hard drive for back-ups… For many people these may be an overkill.
The list of list of items I carried on my month long self-supported cycling trip (Northern Tier, USA)
| Item | Quantity | Weight (Gm) | Total (Kg) | %age of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total of all items | 35.43 | 100.00% | ||
| Bicycle Items: | 7.52 | 21.23% | ||
| Front Rack | 1 | 780 | 0.78 | 2.20% |
| Front Pannier bags - Ortlieb | 2 | 730 | 1.46 | 4.12% |
| Rear rack | 1 | 670 | 0.67 | 1.89% |
| Rear Pannier bags - Ortlieb | 2 | 920 | 1.84 | 5.19% |
| Cycling shoes | 1 | 750 | 0.75 | 2.12% |
| Helmet | 1 | 270 | 0.27 | 0.76% |
| Riding glasses ( Clear + dark) with cover | 2 | 60 | 0.12 | 0.34% |
| Frame pump | 1 | 200 | 0.20 | 0.56% |
| Cyclometer/GPS with mount | 1 | 110 | 0.11 | 0.31% |
| Handlebar bag with mount - Ortlieb | 1 | 730 | 0.73 | 2.06% |
| Cable/lock (mid weight) | 1 | 250 | 0.25 | 0.71% |
| Light w/batteries | 1 | 175 | 0.18 | 0.49% |
| Tail light w/batteries | 1 | 80 | 0.08 | 0.23% |
| Headlamp with batteries | 1 | 85 | 0.09 | 0.24% |
| Tools + Puncture Kit: | 1.47 | 4.15% | ||
| Cycle Multi Tool | 1 | 125 | 0.13 | 0.35% |
| Chain breaker | 1 | 140 | 0.14 | 0.40% |
| Sand paper | 1 | 5 | 0.01 | 0.01% |
| Glue | 1 | 20 | 0.02 | 0.06% |
| Lever | 2 | 30 | 0.06 | 0.17% |
| Spare tube | 2 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.13% |
| Spoke key | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Chain degreaser (small) | 1 | 90 | 0.09 | 0.25% |
| Lubricant (small) | 1 | 90 | 0.09 | 0.25% |
| Bungee cords to hold stuff to | 2 | 125 | 0.25 | 0.71% |
| Thin rope | 1 | 70 | 0.07 | 0.20% |
| Cleaning cloth | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Cable ties | 20 | 0.75 | 0.02 | 0.04% |
| Duck tape | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Rubber bands | 20 | 0.25 | 0.01 | 0.01% |
| Cycling clothes: | 1.74 | 4.92% | ||
| Cycling shorts (2 pair) | 1 | 215 | 0.22 | 0.61% |
| Cycling padded underwear | 2 | 147 | 0.29 | 0.83% |
| Cycling over shorts - un-padded | 1 | 295 | 0.30 | 0.83% |
| Cycling jersey - half-sleeves | 2 | 190 | 0.38 | 1.07% |
| Base layer: polyester microfiber | 2 | 210 | 0.42 | 1.19% |
| Cycling gloves (short fingers) | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Waterproof cycling jacket (light) | 1 | 90 | 0.09 | 0.25% |
| Clothes - others: | 1.49 | 4.21% | ||
| Underwear | 2 | 50 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Hiking shirt/t-shirt (full sleeves) | 1 | 200 | 0.20 | 0.56% |
| Hiking shirt/t-shirt (half sleeves) | 1 | 175 | 0.18 | 0.49% |
| Shorts | 1 | 200 | 0.20 | 0.56% |
| Sleeping t-shirt | 1 | 150 | 0.15 | 0.42% |
| Sleeping boxers | 1 | 180 | 0.18 | 0.51% |
| Slipon shoes | 1 | 385 | 0.39 | 1.09% |
| Socks | 4 | 25 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Cold weather clothes: | 2.10 | 5.93% | ||
| Jacket – down | 1 | 320 | 0.32 | 0.90% |
| Jacket - Fleece | 1 | 480 | 0.48 | 1.35% |
| Warm mid layer | 1 | 260 | 0.26 | 0.73% |
| Full length cycling tights | 1 | 205 | 0.21 | 0.58% |
| Thermal socks | 1 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.17% |
| Cycling gloves (full fingers) | 1 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.17% |
| Warm gloves | 1 | 140 | 0.14 | 0.40% |
| Balaclava | 1 | 75 | 0.08 | 0.21% |
| Hiking pants | 1 | 500 | 0.50 | 1.41% |
| Toilet kit: | 0.86 | 2.42% | ||
| Towel | 1 | 200 | 0.20 | 0.56% |
| Carrying pouch | 1 | 25 | 0.03 | 0.07% |
| Disposable Razor | 1 | 20 | 0.02 | 0.06% |
| Shaving cream (small) | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Tooth brush | 1 | 14 | 0.01 | 0.04% |
| Toothpaste (small) | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Liquid soap/shampoo | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Hand sanitizer | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Sun screen [Bought on trip] | 1 | 150 | 0.15 | 0.42% |
| Chap stick | 1 | 10 | 0.01 | 0.03% |
| Insect repellent | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Toilet paper | 1 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.11% |
| Camping & Sleeping Gear: | 4.14 | 11.67% | ||
| Sleeping bag | 1 | 1000 | 1.00 | 2.82% |
| Waterproof stuff sack | 1 | 85 | 0.09 | 0.24% |
| Sleeping pad | 1 | 900 | 0.90 | 2.54% |
| Tent + bag | 1 | 2100 | 2.10 | 5.93% |
| Cold-water detergent | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Cooking Gear: | 0.90 | 2.54% | ||
| WindBurner Stove System | 1 | 440 | 0.44 | 1.24% |
| Match box | 1 | 10 | 0.01 | 0.03% |
| Lighter | 1 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.08% |
| GSI Outdoors Commuter Java Press | 1 | 290 | 0.29 | 0.82% |
| Plastic lunch box | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Cup | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Plastic knife/fork/spoon | 1 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.08% |
| Food & Water: | 8.98 | 25.35% | ||
| Water bottles with water | 3 | 870 | 5.53 | 15.61% |
| Aquamira Water Treatment Drops | 1 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.14% |
| Freeze-Dried Dinners | 3 | 250 | 0.75 | 2.12% |
| Heat and eat Pasta | 3 | 250 | 0.75 | 2.12% |
| Electrolyte Replacement | 5 | 100 | 0.50 | 1.41% |
| Energy Bars | 2 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.13% |
| Biscuits/Cookies | 2 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.13% |
| Train mix | 2 | 200 | 0.40 | 1.13% |
| Coffee | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Sugar | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| First aid kit + Prescription medications: | 0.60 | 1.69% | ||
| Electronics: | 5.53 | 15.61% | ||
| MacBook Pro + charger | 1 | 2250 | 2.25 | 6.35% |
| HDD + case | 1 | 260 | 0.26 | 0.73% |
| Battery bank | 1 | 600 | 0.60 | 1.69% |
| Phone + Charger | 1 | 250 | 0.25 | 0.71% |
| Camera + lens + Charger + spare batteries | 1 | 1200 | 1.20 | 3.39% |
| Earphones | 1 | 20 | 0.02 | 0.06% |
| Zoom H1 with batteries | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
| Tripod - small - Cullmann | 1 | 850 | 0.85 | 2.40% |
| Miscellaneous: | 0.10 | 0.28% | ||
| Wallet/credit cards/driver’s license/Identity | 1 | 100 | 0.10 | 0.28% |
How I packed for month long self-supported cycling trip (Northern Tier, USA)
Maybe I am OCD, but I have a deep dislike for pilling stuff on the rear rack. I much prefer packing everything inside pannier bags. That way I have no worries of things falling off, being left behind or getting wet.
The other thing I dislike is not knowing what is packed where. When you don’t have a systematic way of packing, you often have to scramble through a bag (sometimes more than one bag) when you are in need of one small thing. I have been there. In fact more than once I have had to empty out all the contents of a pannier bag because I just couldn’t find one little something. Those days are behind me now. I have created a system that works for me. This is how it works:
I try to fit everything into four panniers — two in front and two behind and a handle bar bag:
Rear pannier bag 1:
- Tent (I specifically bought a tent that would fit inside the rear pannier bag)
- Stove
- Food
- Coffee filter
- Tools
- Spare tube and puncture kit
Rear pannier bag 2:
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping mat
- Sleeping clothes
- Laptop
- Camp shoes
- Tripod
- Toiletries
Front pannier bag 1:
- Cycling clothes
- Battery pack
Front pannier bag 2:
- Winter jacket
- Camp clothes
- Electronics - chargers for laptop, camera & phone, GPS
- Back up hard disk drive in hard case
Handle bar bag:
- Camera
- Headlamp
- Passport
- Reading glasses
- Dark glasses
- Backup phone
So this is how I do it. Let me know if you found this useful or if you have a suggestion for me to improve this.
First published on January 1, 2018
#cycling, #featured, #bicycle touring packing list, #cycle tour in india, #cycle touring, #manali to leh cycling
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